August 30, 1919 – February 23, 2011. Alan was born in Victoria, BC, and lived most of his life there. His first job was as apprentice gardener at the Empress Hotel. During WWII he was employed by the Department of National Defence at naval headquarters in Vancouver as coordinator of teletype and coding machine staff, and then as a signal man in the Canadian army until 1945.

After the war, he attended UBC, studying plant science with emphasis on the horticulture option, graduating with his BSc in Agriculture. From 1949 to 1981 he was employed by the BC Ministry of Agriculture, first as horticulture extension specialist for Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, and later as supervising horticulturist for the entire coastal region.

He retired in 1981 and continued to live on his small farm in Happy Valley, where he lived for the rest of his life. Over the years, he served on the Sooke school board, was active in the local church community, and was a life member of the Metchosen Farmers’ Institute. Predeceased by his wife, Margaret, and brother, Keith, he is survived by sons Stephen (Debbie) and Tom (Liz); daughter Norma (Pat); and eight grandchildren.